What Was the 1994 Washington Declaration?

Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin (left), U.S. President Bill Clinton (center), and King Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (right)Presentation of the Washington Declaration on the Whitehouse lawn, July 25, 1994

The Washington Declarartion, signed by Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, King Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and US President Bill Clinton on July 25, 1994, began with the following text:

"A. After generations of hostility, blood, and tears and in the wake of
years of pain and wars, His Majesty King Hussein and Prime Minister
Yitzhak Rabin are determined to bring an end to bloodshed and sorrow.
It is in this spirit that His Majesty King Hussein of the Hashemite
Kingdom of Jordan and Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Mr.
Yitzhak Rabin of Israel, met in Washington today at the invitation of
President William J. Clinton of the United States of America. The
initiative of President William J. Clinton constitutes an historic
landmark in the United States untiring efforts in promoting peace and
stability in the Middle East. The personal involvement of the president
has made it possible to realize agreement on the content of this
historic declaration. The signing of this declaration bears testimony
to the president's vision and devotion to the cause of peace.

B. In their meeting, His Majesty King
Hussein and Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin have jointly reaffirmed the
five underlying principles of their understanding on an Agreed Common
Agenda designed to reach the goal of a just, lasting, and comprehensive
peace between the Arab States and the Palestinians, with Israel.

1. Jordan and Israel aim at the
achievement of just, lasting, and comprehensive peace between Israel
and its neighbors and at the conclusion of a Treaty of Peace between
both countries.

2. The two countries will vigorously
continue their negotiations to arrive at a state of peace, based on
Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338 in all their aspects, and
founded on freedom, equality and justice.

3. Israel respects the present special
role of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in Moslem holy shrines in
Jerusalem. When negotiations on the permanent status will take place,
Israel will give high priority to the Jordanian historic role in these
shrines. In addition, the two sides have agreed to act together to
promote interfaith relations among the three monotheistic religions.

4. The two countries recognize their
right and obligation to live in peace with each other as well as with
all states within secure and recognized boundaries. The two states
affirmed their respect for and acknowledgment of the sovereignty,
territorial integrity, and political independence of every state in the
area.

5. The two countries desire to develop
good neighborly relations of cooperation between them to ensure lasting
security and to avoid threats and the use of force between them."

"For the second time in nine months, bitter Middle Eastern enemies have leaped over decades of history to find themselves clasping hands on the White House lawn and agreeing that reconciliation is the key to prosperity and peace to their troubled lands. Yesterday's triumphant signing of the Washington Declaration by Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and King Hussein of Jordan recalled last September's meeting between Rabin and Palestine Liberation Organization leader Yasser Arafat, and both meetings echoed with the reverberations of the historic 1979 Camp David peace agreement between Israel and Egypt...

The Israel-Jordan agreement represents far more than a mere cessation of 46 years of warfare. It is, as King Hussein said, an agreement to move forward toward hope -- 'a moment of commitment and of vision...'

But yesterday's achievement brings those tough issues into the immediate foreground and provides a badly needed boost to move toward resolution and comprehensive peace."